970 



W^"': The Zoologist — November, 1867. 



Yellow Wagtail. 



Grayheaded Wagtail. 



white, with a streak of Mack on the white, with a hlack border on the 



inner side. inner side of each ; that of the second 



All the others brownish black. feather being broader than that of the 



first. 

 The third feather black, with a narrow 

 outer edge of white. The six central 

 tail-feathers nearly uniform black. 



Meadow and Tree Pipits. — The pipits, which hold an intermediate 

 place between the wagtails and larks, have the slender bill of the 

 former and (with one exception) the long hind claw of the latter. 

 The meadow pipit and tree pipit might be confounded by a casual 

 observer, but the latter may always be distinguished from the former 

 by its larger size and short hind claw. The habits of these two spe- 

 cies are very different, one of them, as its name implies, being much 

 more arboreal, the other seldom perching upon trees, but living almost 

 entirely upon the ground. Again, the note always affords a sure 

 means of distinction ; but in this, as indeed in other similar cases, each 

 one must learn for himself. It is next to impossible to describe the 

 notes of birds accurately, and more particularly those of the small 

 birds. 



Ski/ Lark and Wood Lark. — We have heard many persons express 

 a difficulty in distinguishing the wood lark from the sky lark, owing 

 to their similarity in colour ; but the wood lark is a smaller bird, and 

 has a very short tail compared with the other. It differs also in 

 several other respects, as will be seen by the following table : — 



Sky Lark. 



Entire length 7 inches 3 lines. 



Bill stout. 



No line over eye. 



Ear-coverts light brown, with dark brown 



tips. 

 Crest-feathers short. 

 Spots on breast on a brownish white 



ground look confused and indistinct. 

 Abdomen dirty white. 



Woon Lark. 



Entire length G inches 3 lines. 

 Bill same length, but more slender. 

 Yellowish white line over the eye, ex- 

 tending to the occiput. 

 Ear-coverts dark brown, with black tips. 



Crest-feathers long. 



Spots on breast on a lighter ground and 



more distinct, resembling the pipits. 

 Abdomen purer white. 



